Toni eyes 'historic' Juventus scalp

Feb 8, 2013 3:45:00 PM

The boyhood Bianconeri fan feels Fiorentina have what it takes to defeat his former employers on Saturday, but coach Vincenzo Montella insists they must be "perfect" to win

Fiorentina striker Luca Toni believes his side "can make history" by beating Juventus in the crucial Serie A clash.

Toni realised a boyhood dream when he signed for the current Scudetto champions back in 2011, but his short spell in Turin came to an abrupt end when he joined UAE outfit Al Nasr.

Now plying his trade for Viola, the 35-year-old is relishing the prospect of facing his old employers, and insists his current side are capable of picking up all three points given their performances so far this season.

He told Corriere dello Sport: "I was a Juventus fan from a young age but when I moved to Modena I just started supporting the team I was playing for.

"I injured myself during my second game for the club and [Luigi] Del Neri told me not to give up. But then [Antonio] Conte arrived and told me to pack my bags.

"We [Fiorentina] can make history. We are strong and we give every opponent we face a lot of trouble. No one has ever truly dominated us and in the reverse fixture we dominated them."

Viola coach Vincenzo Montella has warned that his side will need to be "perfect" in order to triumph at Juventus Stadium, and stated he hopes that the burgeoning rivalry between the sides will not boil over during the match.

"We have prepared well for the game and we’ll need to be perfect," the former Catania coach told a press conference.

"It’s true that the rivalry between Juventus and Fiorentina, also at management level, has intensified, but we have to keep that within the context of a sporting rivalry.

"We must transform that into positive energy and not arrogance."

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history
'Mario, you will never redeem yourself'
Mario Gotze's injury means the playmaker has now played his final game for Borussia Dortmund. In an open letter, a fan tells of his emotion at his controversial switch to Bayern
BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders
BVB have recovered from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy to take their place on Europe's grandest stage, humbling their opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, along the way
Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants six new signings
Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements
Soulless EPL must face up to grim reality
After a season marred by controversy and a failure of its top teams to put up a credible Champions League challenge, the world's supposed best league is falling behind

Goal.com